Maybe it was The Bear, or maybe it was the fleeting Silk Purse pop up from the lads behind Lotus Eaters, maybe it's the fact we're a country whose national dish is a cheap bread roll stuffed with fried chicken from South East Asia, but it's clear we're a nation obsessed with the humble sandwich. From funeral sambos to the Bánh mì (that's a Vietnamese Chicken Fillet Roll), it is the optimal meal. Fluffy/toasted/fried bread stuffed with all kinds of fillings and lashings of sauce - what's not to love? Here's where to go when you want a seriously good sandwich in Dublin...
147 Deli, Parnell Street
One of the OG sandwich haunts, Barry Stephens' 147 Deli is probably best known for their classics (their salt beef sub is angelic), but their specials game is mighty strong, inciting all the excitement each week on their Insta. If the Dublin dip happens to pop up on your feed, drop everything and run. Exclusively a Monday to Friday joint, lunchtime sees frequent queues, so plan ahead - if you get there late and everything's sold out, don't say we didn't warn you.
Pig and Heifer, Pearse Street
Another classic, Pig and Heifer have been feeding hungry Dubliners since 1996 - a modern day miracle in the current climate. Inspired by the bodegas of NYC (not any that JLo has been to apparently) prepare to queue an hour either side of the lunchtime rush. They claim to be the first to serve pastrami on rye on the island, just as the yanks intended.
Little Geno's, St. Stephen's Green
Scott Holder, of Los Chicanos Taqueria fame, went a little left of field this year and opened up Little Geno's - a mish-mash-of-cultures, casual sandwich shop in one of the most salubrious buildings in the country. His menu is a short four hit wonder (plus a vegan option) with zero opportunity to swap out ingredients - a sign of a confident and steadfast chef. We loved their take on the bánh mì. Read our once over here.
Hawksmoor, College Green
Not the first place in the city you'd go looking for a sambo, but Hawksmoor are keen on injecting the local terroir into their British roots, and recently collabed with the nation's lord and saviour: Mr Tayto. The grilled ham hock and cheese toastie is packed with cornichons, jalapeños, and four types of Irish cheese, served alongside a handful of Tayto loaded with scallion mayo and more ham hock, because why not. You can nab the Tayto toastie to beat them all in the bar area.
Daddy's, Rialto
Daddy's is a ray of sunshine in Rialto, boasting a strong sandwich game featuring croissandwiches, fancy egg salad and wild Irish albacore tuna coronation creations, making them some of the best lunch fare for miles around. They champion small Irish producers, like Salter's free-range ham, Annascaul pudding, and Rings Farm free range chicken and use them to the best possible effect.
Tiller + Grain, South Frederick Street
Tiller + Grain's owner/chef Clair Dowling worked for Ottolenghi and Skye Gyngell in London, before bringing her flavour-popping sandwiches to Dublin's city centre. Meat and fish are ever so fashionably cooked on an indoor barbecue, the bread is from Bread 41 (naturally), fruits and vegetables are predominantly Irish and seasonal, and it's hard to pass up a sandwich here when it looks like this.
The Pepper Pot Cafe, Powerscourt Townhouse
Any visit to The Pepper Pot Café in Powerscourt Townhouse is incomplete without the legendary bacon, pear and Hegarty's cheddar sandwich on crusty white bread. A great spot to bring first timers to the city, the atrium seating of the Powerscourt Townhouse has airy views over the exclusive boutiques, galleries and jewellers below, and it's a calm, top floor escape from the craziness of the city.
Tír Deli, Hatch Street
If you're looking for the sandwich stuffed with the top tir (sorry, not sorry) ingredients this country has to offer, Tír Deli on Hatch Street is it. They take food sourcing and supplier relationships to another level, with organic veg from Kildare, free-range pork from Carlow, and Donabate Dexter beef some of their choice ingredients. Self proclaimed sandwich scholars, there are no wrong answers on their menu.
Meltdown, Montague Street
Quickly becoming the sandwich district of Dublin, Montague street (shoutout to Green Bench cafe and the aforementioned Tír Deli only around the corner) might possibly have the tastiest sandwiches per square inch in the city. Meltdown make ooey gooey cheese masterpieces, with bangers on the menu like the Mac Mama (a mac and cheese toastie with bacon and crispy onions), and the Pig Deal (slow cooked BBQ'd pulled pork with slaw, red cheddar, and pineapple). With vegan options too, these are the durty toasted cheese sambos of your hangry dreams.
Loose Canon, Drury Street
Cheese toasties but make it fancy. The toastie is a staple in Dublin pubs, and sure, bright orange cheddar melted between two slices of batch with the odd tomato or ham slice thrown in, washed down with a pint of cream, is a straight up dream (we're looking at you Grogan's), but Loose Canon takes the tradition a step further. With a carefully selected BTG list, and toasties packed with top tier cheeses and fancy chutneys, their ever changing menu means every time here is a good time.
